Parachute carrier and release



June 25, 1929. Fl B. FISHER, JR 1.718.551

PARACHUTE CARRIER AND RELEASE Filed Aug. 8, 1927 INVENTOR.

Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRANK B. FISHER, JR., OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

PARACHUTE CARRIER AND RELEASE.

Application filed August 8, 1927. Serial No. 211,403.

This invention relates to aerial amusementdevices, and more especially to a device for use in conjunction with flying kites. It is well known that a messenger strung on a kite string and released will, under the force of the wind, climb the string, and the sending of paper messengers seems to be of never failing interest and entertainment to children.

\Vith this method of sending messengers and the interest. exercised by adults as well as children in parachutes in mind, it was conceived that if parachutes could be sent up to kites and upon arrival be released, the interest of children in kite flying would be greatly increased and an amusement would be provided which would be of considerable importance in keeping the children off of the streets where so many fatalities and injuries occur.

Accordingly I have provided a traveler for ascending and descending a kite string, equipped with a parachute and adapted to be carried by the latter up to the kite, together with means for automatically releasing the parachute to permit the latter to float away and the traveler to gravitate back to the ground along the kite string.

Nith the general object named in view, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of combination and organization of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing. in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flying kite. a parachute and a carrier for ascending the kite string under the pull of the parachute and sliding down the string when the parachute is released.

111. 2 is a plan view of the carrier.

r- 3 is a side view of the carrier.

1 f is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the carrier and parachute as arranged in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the li11e,VV of Figure In the said drawing, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, 1 indicates the body of the aveler and which may be made of wood, papier-mach, or of any other suitable substance possessing sutlicient lightness. Secured to the body 1 adjacent its opposite ends and in alined relation are a pair of loops 2 preferably being left slightly open as at 3 for engagement with a kite string as will hereinafter appear. Between one of the loops 2 and the end of the body, a wire member 4 is passed through the body 1 and has its end anchored by engagement with the adjacent loop 2, the other end of said wire member being coiled atv an intermediate point as at 5, to form a hinge. The lower end terminates in an angular jaw 6 of a clamp member. Another wire is bent to form a similar opposing jaw 7 of said clamp member, being also formed with a pivot portion 8 received within the coiled hinge portion 5 of the member 4. The upper end of the wire providing the second jaw forms an inverted loop-shaped arm 9 overlying the body 1 in alinemcnt with loops 2, and constituting a trip, preferably of somewhat greater diameter than. the loop 2. The jaws of the wire members 4 and 7 are bent angularly at 10 and 11 respectively in opposite directions, and at their free extremities are slightly flared to securely hold a rubber or other resilient band 12 or the like, for resiliently maintaining the aws in clamped rela tion. It is to be understood from a consideration of the drawing that a slight pressure on the loop 9 applied toward the loops 2, opens the jaws of the clamp member against the action of the rubber or other resilient member 10. In this connection it is to be understood that I illustrate and describe the mechanism just referred to as a matter of convenience to show one operative form of clamp for use with the device.

The parachute is indicated at 13. said parachute -being equipped with a plurality of falls 14 and may be made of any suitable fabric or of tissue paper or the like. Secured to the ends of the falls is a weight 15 to insure proper descent of the chute, and in practice it is found desirable to make the weight 15 conform in general outline to the form of or to simulate a man as in the descent of the device such simulation appears natural and lifelike and adds greatly to the interest manifested by children in the operation of the structure.

In order to attach the chute to the traveler so that the force of the wind shall raise the chute and traveler to the point of release, the kite string 15 is engaged with the loops 2 by passage through the spaces 3 provided for this purpose, said string also being engaged with the loop or trip 91 The distance between the trip 9 and the adjacent loop 2 is regulated so that under normal conditions the arc of the kite string will not be sufiiciently abrupt to cause the trip to ride on the kite string, and possibly release the chute as will hereinafter appear, but is sufiiciently taut to substantially insure the centering of the knite string within the trip 9.

Secured in any suitable manner to the kite string and preferably substantially below the kite to prevent possible entanglement of the chute with the kite or its tail, is a trip pinor cross piece 16. After engaging the traveler with the kite string as set out, the operator engages a corner or edge of the chute with the clampjaws 6 and 7 and unfolds and straightens out the chute, the distance from the clamp to a projecting pin 18 secured adjacent the bottom of the traveler, being such that when the chute is engaged with the clamp one of the falls of the latter will just span the distance so that it is fairly taut, a loop 19 being formed adjacent the ends of the falls to he slipped over said pin 18 to maintain the lower ends of the falls and the weight connected to the lower end of the traveler.

After the chute has been attached to the traveler as described, it is bellied out by hand until it is caught by the force of the wind. The force of the wind against the chute effects the upward travel of the traveler along the kite string engage by the supporting loops 2, the taut fall taking most of the load so that the corner of the chute will not be disengaged from the clamp.

It will be evident that the speed of ascent of the traveler and chute will be altogether dependent on the force of the wind, and said device will continue to ascend until the trip 9 contacts with the trip pin or cross piece 16, which effects opening of the clampjaws and the consequent release of the chute. As soon as the chute is released, the taut fall momentarily slackens and the weight 13 assisted by the forward inclination of the pin 18, will effect disengagement of the loop 19 from the lower end of the traveler, the chute thereupon continuing its natural descent and the traveler returning along the kite string to the ground for a repetition of the ascent, if desired.

From the above description it will be apother end of said carrier for detachable engagement with the falls of such parachute. 2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a flying kite, a carrier slidingly suspended from the kite string,-

yieldingly-closed clamp aws on the carrier, a projecting pin on the carrier spaced from said jaws, a parachute'held in suspension by the clamp aws, and provided with falls looped on the said pin with the fall nearest the carrier in taut condition, a trip for the clamp aws, and means on the kite string to intercept the upward travel of the carrier imparted thereto by the parachute under pressure of the wind to effect operation of the trip.

3. In a device of the character described, a carrier, means for slidably engaging the carrier with a support, a parachute having an extension member, means adjacent one end of the carrier for releasably engaging the parachute, and means at the other'end of said carrier for releasably engaging the extension member of said parachute.

4;. In a device of the character described, the combination of a flying kite, a carrier slidingly suspended from the, kite string, a parachute having an extension member, means on the carrier releasably engaging the chute holding means and engaging the extenslon means of the chute. V

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

FRANK B. FISHER, JR.

said para- 7 chute, and a pin on the carrier spaced from 

